A 22-year-old youth was shot dead by the police in Bhiwani when he was returning from a party in the wee hours of Monday, his family alleged. But the police have claimed that it was a case of accidental firing.

The main accused, constable Karmbir, has been arrested and a case against seven other personnel of Hisar's Hansi police has been registered, Superintendent of Police, Bhiwani, Sanjay Singh said.

The killing of Kuldeep, a student of Vaish College, sparked violent protests in the area with mobs damaging police vehicles.

Kuldeep's brother Vikas, who along with another friend was with the victim when the incident took place, alleged that they were proceeding towards their house on a motorcycle when a police van suddenly stopped them. One among the personnel, some of whom were in plain clothes, fired a shot from point blank range at Kuldeep, he alleged.

He said that the police inquired about their whereabouts after the firing. Kuldeep fell from the bike and died on the spot, Vikas claimed, adding that the police team fled from the site.

Hukam Singh, who was also traveling with the two brothers, alleged that the policemen were inebriated and manhandled them before firing at Kuldeep.

However, Hisar Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Rao said that the gunning down of a student by the Hansi police was not an encounter but a case of accidental firing. He said that policemen had stopped the youths as they had information that one Dara Singh, a prime suspect in a robbery case, was in Bhiwani.

When the police signaled the motorcycle to stop at midnight, the youths tried to speed away, Rao claimed. However, the police party chased them on the Tosham-Bhiwani road. When the policemen neared the motorcycle, a constable's gun went off due to the poor condition of the road, the superintendent claimed.

"It is a case of accidental fire and not an encounter," he said.